Confirmed: Craig Gordon to captain Hearts against Celtic

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Craig Gordon will captain Hearts against Celtic on July 31st after being named the Tynecastle club’s new on-field captain today.

The retirement of Steven Naismith has given Gordon the opportunity to become the captain of the club he started his career with.

The Scotland international is also, of course, a treble-treble winner with Celtic too. Gordon produced 242 appearances for the Hoops between 2014 and 2020 [Transfermarkt].

And now his first Premiership game with Hearts will come against his former club and with the nine-in-a-row winner as captain.

Gordon has been with Hearts since the summer of 2020, helping to push the Jambos to Championship promotion last season.

Craig Gordon set for acid test when Hearts face Celtic

It’s fair to say that Gordon’s relationship with the Celtic support soured towards the end of his time here. Fans never did appreciate him slamming the club in the media for how contract talks were progressing [Daily Record].

He didn’t help himself last season either in the curtailed 2020 Scottish Cup final. After being chipped with a Panenka by Odsonne Edouard, Gordon threw the ball in the Celtic striker’s direction in an action of anger and embarrassment.

And he’ll be set for a major acid test when Celtic visit Gorgie on opening day later this month. Ange Postecoglou’s side will arrive in Edinburgh looking to make a major statement. Gordon can expect a busy evening.

In the previous meeting between the sides at Hampden, Gordon did manage to keep the Jambos in the game. Eventually, the contest would go to penalties. The former Celtic shot-stopper would be then frustrated as the Hoops won the shootout.

Celtic fans haven’t simply forgotten what Gordon did for the club. He was a massive part of the invincible treble season in particular. He also gave six solid years of service at the club.

But he hasn’t done much over the last two years to keep his reputation high with the support. If Celtic do ruin Gordon’s big Premiership return, he won’t find a lot of sympathy from the Parkhead faithful.

In other news: Ange Postecoglou opens up big opportunity to Celtic youth players